Did I waste my money?

[Mybackyardpeepers]

In the desert sand where we lived at that time, no fertilizer = no plants.

In the desert sand where we lived at that time, no fertilizer = no plants.

Wow.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Sometimes I think they do it on purpose. I had my blackberry bushes "accidentally" mowed down so often I finally installed metal fence posts around each bush. It stopped that atrocity, but then the blueberry bushes started showing grave injuries.

Aww lol. Yeah where we put the run he has just a mower width on one side so anything I plant there is in no way safe!

 

[TooCheep]

In the desert sand where we lived at that time, no fertilizer = no plants.

Wow.

This makes perfect sense. Soil is made of three components- sand, clay and organic matter. Sand is good for drainage, but it doesn't hold water or nutrients (N/P/K and micronutrient chemicals). Clay and organics both can store water and (different) nutrients. All soils have different mixes of those three basic components. Pure (or nearly pure) sand can't hold nutrients year after year, so simply adding water won't allow much to grow.

 

[123RedBeard]

Eastern and Western cedar is very different ... many sub-species of cedar ... some better/worse than others ... even the worst stuff outside, with only four bags ... I'd not worry ... skip the pine shavings for outside (unless they have already been "used" in the coop) and get mulch/bark/shredded wood ...

Don't be too hard on us guys ... we mean well, and you don't have to be out there doing it yourselves!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Don't be too hard on us guys ... we mean well, and you don't have to be out there doing it yourselves! [/QUOTE]

True that! I am actually too short to use the gas push mower DH uses, even on its lowest setting, so I love it that he keeps the grounds mowed! We have a "ring" of bulb flowers around the house I call my Ring of Fire and there is no way he would mow that down. He is Da Best! A good guy is a treasure from heaven!

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

This makes perfect sense. Soil is made of three components- sand, clay and organic matter. Sand is good for drainage, but it doesn't hold water or nutrients (N/P/K and micronutrient chemicals). Clay and organics both can store water and (different) nutrients. All soils have different mixes of those three basic components. Pure (or nearly pure) sand can't hold nutrients year after year, so simply adding water won't allow much to grow.

Great analogy!

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

Eastern and Western cedar is very different ... many sub-species of cedar ... some better/worse than others ... even the worst stuff outside, with only four bags ... I'd not worry ... skip the pine shavings for outside (unless they have already been "used" in the coop) and get mulch/bark/shredded wood ...

Don't be too hard on us guys ... we mean well, and you don't have to be out there doing it yourselves!

All the places I stopped for pine mulch were soaked and moldy so I didn't get any. We have had such bad rain here and places store it all outdoors. The cedar I got was called pure virgin, 4 bags in a 10x10 space. Thank you so much for the help.

 

[Parront]

This makes perfect sense. Soil is made of three components- sand, clay and organic matter. Sand is good for drainage, but it doesn't hold water or nutrients (N/P/K and micronutrient chemicals). Clay and organics both can store water and (different) nutrients. All soils have different mixes of those three basic components. Pure (or nearly pure) sand can't hold nutrients year after year, so simply adding water won't allow much to grow.

One reason we moved, besides the heat. I put some peat moss and steer manure, trying to just grow a couple of tomato plants and lettuce in a raised, protected, shaded bed. Ants came and mined out the peat moss and manure! Lines of them carrying away all that free food.

 

[Parront]

Eastern and Western cedar is very different ... many sub-species of cedar ... some better/worse than others ... even the worst stuff outside, with only four bags ... I'd not worry ... skip the pine shavings for outside (unless they have already been "used" in the coop) and get mulch/bark/shredded wood ...

Don't be too hard on us guys ... we mean well, and you don't have to be out there doing it yourselves!

Not complaining here, my guy mows & does gutters! I feed him and do roses and tomatoes, & soon some chickens again. But, one reason to have chickens is the poop! Nice bedding to keep it safe to go on the plants is part of the plan. Here, pine needles are free. They are even sold in bales as "pine straw". They last a long time in a chicken run, and I have not seen them get moldy. Maybe in a wet bale in the heat? I like using peat moss in my garden, Prescott has a lot of rock and sand, where it is not clay! I want to put some peat moss in my chicken house, just for the manure holding properties.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

One reason we moved, besides the heat. I put some peat moss and steer manure, trying to just grow a couple of tomato plants and lettuce in a raised, protected, shaded bed. Ants came and mined out the peat moss and manure! Lines of them carrying away all that free food.

Oh man. We got ants here, they are horrible.